Orvieto
The historical centre of Orvieto, an authentic chest of art enclosed at the top of a cliff, can be reached nowadays by means of the reactivated cable railway, which departs from the railway station car park. Orvieto, the Etruscan Velzna, whose first settlements date back as far as the IXth century B.C., was subsequently conquered by the Romans. In the Middle Ages it was a free town which then remained faithful to the Pope. Strong with its support from Pontifical powers, Orvieto continued to prosper at length, reaching its apex in the XIIIth century when the Consiglio dei 400 (Council of the 400) was established and brought about the election of the Capitano del Popolo (People’s Commander). In 1263, building on the Cathedral began, the most important architectural testimony of the city, with its splendid Gothic front and the splendour of its decorations and inside chapels. Orvieto remained great even during the XVIth century, so much that in 1527, the day after the sack of Rome, Pope Clemente VII took refuge there. The ample historical centre offers visitors a suggestive atmosphere, among the extraordinary testimonies of the past to be inserted in an itinerary to discover the cliff-top city. The Pozzo di San Patrizio (Saint Patrick’s well), whose building began in 1527 on a project by Antonio da Sangallo the younger, to supply water to the fortress of the Albornoz, in case of siege or conflict. Finished in 1537, the well is 62 metres deep, and on its inside, there are two double helix flights of overimposed steps, planned this way to facilitate water transportation (can be visited on paying a fee).
Exceptional artistic treasures are the many public and private buildings which open their tuff fronts onto the streets and squares of the centre: the Palazzo dei Sette , from the 14th century, with its neighbour, the Torre del Moro (Moor Tower), the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo (Palace of the People’s Commander) – XII century, in which the meetings of the Consiglio Popolare (Popular Council) were held in the sala dei 400 (Hall of the Four Hundred) and Palazzo Soliano (1262) which hosts two museums: the Museum of Cathedral Opera and the Emilio Greco Museum.
Not forgetting the Church of Sant’Andrea (XII century), San Domenico (XIII century), San Giovenale (XI century) and the remarkable Mancinelli Theatre (1866). One of the most beautiful Benedectine Abbeys can be found on the outskirts of the city: the Abbey of Saints Severo and Martirio.
Naturally a touristic itinerary to Orvieto can not disregard a visit to the testimonies left by the city’s ancient inhabitants, the Etruscans, in the Necropolis of the Tuff crucifix, in the Belvedere Temple, or in the Archaeological Museum.


Information:
IAT - piazza Duomo 24 - Orvieto
IAT 0763.341772 - 0763.40688
cell. 339.7332764 - 0763.344891
cell. 347.3831472
e-mail: speleotecnica@libero.it


Ficulle
Situated 22 km from Orvieto, Ficulle is a fortified village (X and XI centuries) with a mighty keep at the entrance. The front of the Church of Santa Maria Nuova (New Saint Mary) (1600) stands out over the village, completely covered in bricks and built to the design of the architect Ippolito Scalza.
Ficulle also contains an interesting Data Centre on the local terracotta craftswork as well as laboratories on trades of the past.

Information:
tel. 0763.86031 - IAT 0763.341772
e-mail: info@iat.orvieto.tr.it

Baschi
Alleys, houses, windows and flights of steps in the historical centre of Baschi are tiny. The narrow streets are, for this reason, called “holes” and are the protagonists of a fair held in August. The village is also characterised by the bulk of the “Palazzaccio”, an austere XVI century construction built on the highest part of the village and once the residence of the Baschi, local Lords, and today premises of the Municipal.

Information:
tel. 0744.957225 - 0744.957911
IAT 0763.341772
e-mail: info@comunedibaschi.it

Monteleone
At 41 km from Orvieto, the village of Monteleone conserves a monumental tower realised in brick with a large clock dated 1888. Inside the village there is the Teatro della Concordia, one of the smallest in the world, an authentic architectural jewel realised in 1372 following the transformation of a medieval building.

Information:
tel. 0763.834280 - IAT 0763.341772
e-mail: info@iat.orvieto.tr.it

Allerona
Allerona, 18 km from Orvieto, is the village of the Festa dei Pugnaloni (Dagger Festival), special sticks with an iron tip which were used to prick oxen. Allerona has dedicated a curious and interesting museum with an extremely rich documentation to its main festival, which is held in May.

Information:
Pro Loco 0763.628312
Municipality of Allerona 0763.628312
IAT 0763.341772
e-mail: comuneallerona@tiscalinet.it

Castel Giorgio
The village, at 16 km from Orvieto, is dominated by the massive building of the Della Rovere Castle, built by Cardinal Giorgio della Rovere – who gave his name to the town – as a holiday resort in the middle of the 15th century.

Information:
IAT 0763.341772 - 0763.343658
Municipality of Castel Giorgio 0763.627093
e-mail: comune.castelgiorgio@orvienet.it

Porano
Porano, high up on a hill in front of Orvieto, 9 km away, is completely enclosed in medieval walls. In its well-preserved historical centre, the Palazzo degli Avveduti (Palace of the Judicious) stands out, today the Municipal Hall, is conspicuous on the square which was once its courtyard.

Information:
Municipality of Porano 0763.374462
IAT 0763.341772
e-mail: info@comune@porano.tr.it

Montegabbione
The towers and walls of Montegabbione are reminiscent of its past as boundary fortress. All the ring-shaped urban plant was enclosed inside the walls and still today preserves the atmosphere and charm of ancient times.

Information:
Municipality of Montegabbione 0763.837521
IAT 0763.341772
e-mail: comunemg@tin.it

Castel ViscardoMontecchio
Situated 13 km from Orvieto, the village has dedicated a permanent exhibition to the processing of terracotta which is produced in the local kilns and exported everywhere, and was also used for the restoration of the Colosseum in Rome and for Piazza del Campo in Siena.

Information:
Municipality of Castel Viscardo 0763.361010
IAT 0763.341772
e-mail: castelviscardo@tiscalinet.it

Montecchio
25 km from Orvieto, Montecchio preserves its medieval urbanistic plant, with large sections of walls, embattled towers and a gateway to the historical centre.

Information:
Municipality of Montecchio 0744.951221
IAT 0763.341772
e-mail: comunemontecchio@tin.it